We visited the Art Gilkey memorial, erected in 1953 and named after one of the first western victims on K2. It is situated between G.Austen-Gl. and Savoia Gl. at the foot of the Angelus, the summit towering over K2-Bc. It is about half an hour walking from Bc.

In about 40 years it is covered by rememberings for the dead on K2.

Inside a rock-groove the body of Mario Puzo, from the Italian 1954 expedition, still remains.

The inscription also stems from this expedition. It reads about the Italian victory on K2 in 1954.

There is also -most unexpected- life at Art Gilkey memorial!

The Camps on K2. Sketch by Cas.

Detail of he most accurate map of K2, also by the Italian 1954 expedition. Striking detail is the use in 1954 of about twice as much camps as nowadays. Modern camp 1 is at 1954 camp 2, modern camp 2 is at 1954 camp 5!, etc...

In this scheme Cas shows his climbing-work on K2. Wilco's accident is marked at the first blue line (June 18th).

Here we first have to cross the G.-Austen icefall, inconveniently placed between Bc and Advanced Bc (ABc). It consists of only ice; it is much unlike the famous Khumbu icefall at Mt Everest. It is much smaller and -very important- almost completely harmless.

The icefall was a sort of ice-palace.

With nice little towers, ready to fall on whoever wants to sit down. So get on with it.

As the snow melted away life unexpectedly turns up at the foot of the mountain (5250 m)! Hundreds of these beautiful tiny (10-15 cm) flowers pop up within a week when the sun hits the soil.

Ronald spoke about burning his litter to leave the mountain clean. Here he burns a kleenex. In the bus to Skardu he threw out a couple of empty batteries, "because all Pakistani did the same".

Advanced Basecamp was installed to stow heavy gear needing transport up the mountain any moment later; it also was the first place tomake a kind of rescue-post in case of any accidents..... or to have a pause before starting the steep climb up to camp 1.

Thins get a little more interesting upon entering the rocky parts.

Quite steep indeed. The ropes are very useful and very reassuring. The hight is getting me tired and weak at the knees, especially when going down after an tiring day's work.

Still steep! Way down is the icefall.

The Abruzzi ice-face from beside (45 degrees indeed).

Edmond relentlessly filming anyone and anything to prove himself the right camera-man.

This was the view to camp 1 and 2. The red rocks in the center hide House's chimney, about 600 m higher, camp 2 is just above. Camp 1 is at the end of the white at the right

View at Windy Gap (China border) from camp 1. We were the first to enter here; we had the best places. The yellow tent is from the Anglo-American expedition. It balances on a very small ridge. The ropes are for securing the tents in case of stormy circumstances.

Kra Bass in splendid weather.